May & Books

May has been a pretty bad reading month so far. Usually I read 8-10 books a month, and so far I'd only read 5 this month (one was read aloud with hubby), and had 3 DNF. Granted, we still have over a week left yet and who knows, maybe I could squeeze a couple more books in - that's probably when YA books come in handy :) But I have to remember, quality, not quantity... I think with YA I'll mostly stick to dystopian only since it seems to be the YA genre I like best. Since I pretty much had been reading every day (some day more pages than others), I guess about this time of the year that I may feel a little burn out and slow down a little.

Work is still keeping me busy... will prob be so for a while... it's a blessing really that we still have relatively stable jobs.

It hasn't been a week of good news though for people we know... my in-laws had to put their dog down due to cancer, I found out a relative has cancer, and another relative may have some damage to their house/car because of the tornado this weekend...The bit of good news this week was that we took our 2 cats (out of 3) to the vet for their first annual check up, and they both passed with flying colors. Made me feel better being a first time pet mum.

Hope everyone are having a better week, reading or otherwise! :)

PS:

This week I finished Addition by Toni Jordan, Attachments by Rainbow Rowell. Did not finish The Good Patient by Kristin Waterfield Duisberg.

Book Review - A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

Title: A Long Way Down 
Author: Nick Hornb
Year: 2006
Page: 352
Genre: Fiction

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
New Year's Eve at Toppers' House, North London's most popular suicide spot. And four strangers are about to discover that doing away with yourself isn't quite the private act they'd each expected.

Perma-tanned Martin Sharp's a disgraced breakfast TV presenter who had it all - the kids, the wife, the pad, the great career - and wasted it away. Killing himself is Martin's logical and appropriate response to an unliveable life. "Maureen has to do it tonight, because of Matty being in the home. He was never able to do any of the normal things kids do - like walk or talk - and loving-mum Maureen can't cope any more. Dutiful Catholic that she is, she's ready to commit the "biggest sin of all"

Half-crazed with heartbreak, loneliness, adolescent angst, seven Bacardi Breezers and two Special Brews, Jess's ready to jump, to fly off the roof. Finally, there's JJ - tall, cool, American, looks like a rock-star, sometimes thinks he plays his guitar like one - who's weighted down with a heap of problems, and pizza.

Four strangers, who moments before were convinced that they were alone and going to end it all that way, share out the pizza and begin to talk ... Only to find that they have even less in common than first suspected." Nick Hornby's A Long Way Down is a novel that asks some of the big questions: about life and death, strangers and friendship, love and pain, and whether a group of losers, and pizza, can really see you through a long, dark night of the soul.

First Sentence:
Can I explain why I wanted to jump off the top of a tower block?

My Thoughts:

Why this book?

• April book club pick

First thought:

• Not my cup of tea... couldn't finish it

Cover Art:

• Guess it is relevant to the book and is a little quirky

Title:

• Since I couldn't finish the book, difficult for me to say whether it described the book

Writing:

• The writing was actually quite easy to read. It was the plot and characters that made me stopped reading...

Plot:

• To me, nothing much happened in 77 pages, and I got bored...

• Funny enough, one of the book club members said LOTS happened in the book lol. 

Characters:

• I didn't really care about the 4 main characters. I didn't care whether they lived or died (the book started off with all 4 of them wanting to jump off the building). 

• It was interesting to hear what the other book clubs members said about the 4 characters. Even though I couldn't participate much in the discussion, I liked to listen to learn what others thought of the book

Ending:

• I cheated and googled what happened. I probably would have ended the book a bit differently 

Emotion:

• Bored... 

What I Learned:

• That's right, I still don't like character-driven books!!! 

PS:

• Funny enough, I was the only one who couldn't finish the book. One person didn't really like it, everyone else quite liked it! (there were about 12-15 of us?) I found I have quite a different reading taste from most of them though so that might not have been surprising. Joining this book club is like doing one of the blog book challenges - trying to push my limit :) I am glad I joined though, as I otherwise wouldn't read some of the books.

Read this Author again?

• This was my first time reading this author. I had heard of him before but never really felt like I needed to read his book (or watch the movies based on his books). I am guessing I probably won't read him again... no in the near future anyway

Overall Rating:
0 Star. Did Not Finish.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II by Mitchell Zuckoff

Title: Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II
Author: Mitchell Zuckoffx 
Year: 2011
Page: 400
Genre: Non-Fiction - History

FTC Disclosure: Free ARC from HarperCollins in x

Summary (from goodreads.com):
On May 13, 1945, twenty-four American servicemen and WACs boarded a transport plane for a sightseeing trip over Shangri-La, a beautiful and mysterious valley deep within the jungle-covered mountains of Dutch New Guinea. Unlike the peaceful Tibetan monks of James Hilton's bestselling novel Lost Horizon, this Shangri-La was home to spear-carrying tribesmen, warriors rumored to be cannibals. But the pleasure tour became an unforgettable battle for survival when the plane crashed. 


Miraculously, three passengers pulled through. Margaret Hastings, barefoot and burned, had no choice but to wear her dead best friend's shoes. John McCollom, grieving the death of his twin brother also aboard the plane, masked his grief with stoicism. Kenneth Decker, too, was severely burned and suffered a gaping head wound.

Emotionally devastated, badly injured, and vulnerable to the hidden dangers of the jungle, the trio faced certain death unless they left the crash site. Caught between man-eating headhunters and enemy Japanese, the wounded passengers endured a harrowing hike down the mountainside--a journey into the unknown that would lead them straight into a primitive tribe of superstitious natives who had never before seen a white man or woman.

Drawn from interviews, declassified U.S. Army documents, personal photos and mementos, a survivor's diary, a rescuer's journal, and original film footage, Lost in Shangri-La recounts this incredible true-life adventure for the first time. Mitchell Zuckoff reveals how the determined trio--dehydrated, sick, and in pain--traversed the dense jungle to find help; how a brave band of paratroopers risked their own lives to save the survivors; and how a cowboy colonel attempted a previously untested rescue mission to get them out.

By trekking into the New Guinea jungle, visiting remote villages, and rediscovering the crash site, Zuckoff also captures the contemporary natives; remembrances of the long-ago day when strange creatures fell from the sky. A riveting work of narrative nonfiction that vividly brings to life an odyssey at times terrifying, enlightening, and comic, Lost in Shangri-La is a thrill ride from beginning to end.

First Sentence:
On a rainy day in May 1945, a Western Union messenger made his rounds through the quiet village of Owego, in upstate New York.

My Thoughts:

Why this book?

• While history books aren't usually my genre, this one promised to read like a fast-paced adventure fiction. Besides, my husband would really enjoy this one since he loves reading about wars, so I thought this would be a good contender for our "read aloud" together (me reading it out loud to him as he prefers audio and I prefer prints)

First thought:

• I am just glad I wasn't on that plane...

Cover Art:

• I have an ARC so my cover was actually the second picture posted (the green one). I actually prefer this version over the one that got released (the more orange one) because of the jungle. I still think the cover could be a bit more attractive - maybe an actual picture of Shagnri-La / Baliem Valley and/or the natives?

Title:

• Fitting, interesting and concise

Writing:

• Easy to read, with a subtle sense of humor (when appropriate). 

Plot:

• The author had conducted extensive research for this book and it showed - not just the event, but the different characters mentioned in the book too. Because of that, sometimes it got side-tracked a bit (e.g. by providing the background of a non-key-but-not-too-minor characters). We read this book together over a couple of months due to our schedule, and sometimes I had to think back about what happened or whom that person was.

• The story was engaging though as we really wanted to find out what happened - did they beat the odds? If so, how? 

Characters:

• We really got a sense of whom the main characters were - especially since we got read some of their diary entries. 

• It was really interesting to read about the natives, and the perceptions and/or assumptions from both sides. I had always been fascinated by cultural differences so I really enjoyed reading this part. I am a little sadden about how they turned out as reported in the epilogue. 

• There were quite a lot of people mentioned in the book - some played a bigger part than others. I guessed the author just wanted to acknowledge them, and documented their role in the story. I was particularly glad he played special tributes to the paratroopers, especially the medics  - they deserved the kudos.

• It wasn't until we finished the book that I found a list of all characters at the end of the book! Would have been better if the list was placed in the beginning of the book so I knew it was there to start with! Typically I tried not to flip to the back of any books in case I read the ending by accident...

Ending:

• I was pleased the author included an epilogue.

Emotion:

• I couldn't imagine having to go through what the main 3 characters went through. There definitely were some touching moments, especially when it came to McCollom - he was so young and yet so mature

What I Learned:

• I didn't know about Dutch New Guinea and its involvement in WWII. Definitely learned quite a few new things in this book!

PS:

• The husband enjoyed this book as I predicted. I asked him how he'd rate out of 5 stars. He wouldn't give me an answer as he hates rating things (and I ask him to rate things a lot lol)

Read this Author again?

• Yes!

Quote:

Margaret described a lesson she carried with her from the valley. "Fear is something I don't think you experience unless you have a choice. If you have a choice, then you're liable to be afraid. But without a choice, what is there to be afraid of?You just go along doing what has to be done." (p316)

Overall Rating:
4 Stars.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

3 Did Not Finish this month so far?!?! And Interesting Book Cover

This May alone, I already gave up on 3 books (The Lens and The Looker, So Much Pretty and The Good Patient). Almost 300 pages of wasted reading. Could've finished another book by now!

Saw this book, Bella Maura, on the library shelf the other day. What an intriguing design! I didn't end up borrowing the book because I want to finish what I have already borrowed first... Seen any interesting book covers lately?

Book Review - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce #1) by Alan Bradley

Title: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce #1) 
Author: Alan Bradley  
Year: 2009
Page: 374
Genre: Fiction - Murder / Mystery / Thriller / Suspense

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):

It is the summer of 1950–and at the once-grand mansion of Buckshaw, young Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison, is intrigued by a series of inexplicable events: A dead bird is found on the doorstep, a postage stamp bizarrely pinned to its beak. Then, hours later, Flavia finds a man lying in the cucumber patch and watches him as he takes his dying breath.

For Flavia, who is both appalled and delighted, life begins in earnest when murder comes to Buckshaw. “I wish I could say I was afraid, but I wasn’t. Quite the contrary. This was by far the most interesting thing that had ever happened to me in my entire life.”

First Sentence:
It was as black in the closet as old blood.

My Thoughts:

Why this book?

• I have read lots of good reviews about this book, but for some reasons it never really called out to me. However, Tea Time with Marce's review convinced me to give it a try! We may not always have the same taste in books (e.g. I really like the Hunger Games, and she doesn't) but I trust her honest reviews.

First thought:

• How adorable is Flavia!

Cover Art:

• It's okay, not something that'd attract me on the shelf. I found the international covers (see this link) and I think my favorite is the Russian cover, followed by the Germany one. My least favorite is the UK paperback version. How boring!!

Title:

• For some reasons this title reminded me of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Maybe because they both had "pie" in the title?! This book has a slightly better title though - at least I can remember the full title (sometime).

Writing:

• It took a bit of getting used to the writing style. What happened in the first chapter confused me a little, but I am glad I read past it to finish the book!

Plot:

• The mystery plot was a little weak, compared to the other books in the same genre. I don't know if that's because the main protagonist is a child, so that the plot can't be too complicated?

• Parts of the story was a little slow...

Characters:

• That's where the book really shone - Flavia was definitely a memorable characters! It reminded me a bit of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series - I thought the plot was just okay (I read the first bookonly, watched all 3 movies), but Lisbeth, like Flavia, is not your run of the mill characters.

• Flavia also reminded me of myself a little - I liked science, I just wish I was good at it like Flavia was! And of course I liked the solving mystery part too, I remember enjoyed reading this genre even when I was a kid. Well, I think I treat my sisters a bit better than Flavia did with hers :)

• All the other minor characters had their own personalities too.

Ending:

• It was okay. I don't remember much but I remember not hating it.

Emotion:

• It was fun to read about a fun character!

What I Learned:

• I need a good balance of good characters and good plot! I think that's why I like Jeffery Deaver's Lincoln Rhythm's series so much - you get a sense of whom Lincoln is, and yet he has brilliant twists and turns. I like that he providers the more technical and scientific details of forensic science (some people find it boring, but I like to learn such stuff! I wanted to be a CSI, except I suck at chemistry and biology and well, biochemistry!) Another thing I like about this book is its chemistry reference - I like learning about such elements even though I don't remember any of it. I am a nerd who can't remember the nerdy details :)

PS:

• I am glad I read this even though I don't quite know what to expect of it!

Read this Author again?

• While I am not running out to borrow the rest of the series right away (due to its weaker plots), I think this is a series I'd turn to when I want a lighter read, or when I want something to get me out of reading funk - something familiar, something I'd enjoy (at least Flavia and her little quirks) while it's something I haven't read before and can be surprised. 

• Have you read the rest of the series? What do you think? Is it worth going out to read now, instead of later "when I feel like it?"

Quote: 

Once I had taught myself to make sense of the chemical equations... the universe was laid open before me. It was like having stumbled upon a recipe book that had once belonged to the witch in the wood. (p9-10)

Mediocrity, I discovered, was the great camouflage, the great protective coloring. (p180)

Silence is sometimes the most costly of commodities. (p219)

Overall Rating:
3.5 Stars.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

Title: The Sugar Queen 
Author: Sarah Addison Allen
Year: 2008
Page: 276
Genre: Fiction - Magical Realism

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):

In this irresistible follow-up to her New York Times bestselling debut, Garden Spells, author Sarah Addison Allen tells the tale of a young woman whose family secrets—and secret passions—are about to change her life forever.

Twenty-seven-year-old Josey Cirrini is sure of three things: winter in her North Carolina hometown is her favorite season, she’s a sorry excuse for a Southern belle, and sweets are best eaten in the privacy of her hidden closet. For while Josey has settled into an uneventful life in her mother’s house, her one consolation is the stockpile of sugary treats and paperback romances she escapes to each night…. Until she finds it harboring none other than local waitress Della Lee Baker, a tough-talking, tenderhearted woman who is one part nemesis—and two parts fairy godmother…

Fleeing a life of bad luck and big mistakes, Della Lee has decided Josey’s clandestine closet is the safest place to crash. In return she’s going to change Josey’s life—because, clearly, it is not the closet of a happy woman. With Della Lee’s tough love, Josey is soon forgoing pecan rolls and caramels, tapping into her startlingly keen feminine instincts, and finding her narrow existence quickly expanding.

Before long, Josey bonds with Chloe Finley, a young woman who makes the best sandwiches in town, is hounded by books that inexplicably appear whenever she needs them, and—most amazing of all—has a close connection to Josey’s longtime crush.

As little by little Josey dares to step outside herself, she discovers a world where the color red has astonishing power, passion can make eggs fry in their cartons, and romance can blossom at any time—even for her. It seems that Della Lee’s work is done, and it’s time for her to move on. But the truth about where she’s going, why she showed up in the first place—and what Chloe has to do with it all—is about to add one more unexpected chapter to Josey’s fast-changing life.

Brimming with warmth, wit, and a sprinkling of magic, here is a spellbinding tale of friendship, love—and the enchanting possibilities of every new day.

First Sentence:
When Josey woke up and saw the feathery frost on her windowpane, she smiled.

My Thoughts:

Why this book?

• We are choosing our books for our book club for Aug 2011-July 2012. The librarian hosting the book club gave us a list of choices (some of them are our suggestions... okay a lot of them are MY suggestions :p). One book that caught my eye was Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. I have never heard of her before, but that book sounded intriguing even though it's not my usual type of books. I did a little more research, and found all her books have great reviews. I decided to try The Sugar Queen out instead (so if the book club ends up choosing Garden Spells, I would read it then along with the book club members)

First thought:

• I think I may have found a new favorite author, even though this is not my usual genre!

Cover Art:

• I like it but I don't love it. I wish I have a window view like that though!

Title:

• Sugar? Queen? Sounds like a winning combo! (Though admittedly, I am not really into the whole princessy, royalty thing. It gets your attention though, especially since I have a sweet tooth!)

Writing:

• Easy to read. No complaints here. Probably not literature standard but hey that's why I am reading this since I am not into literature!

Plot:

• A bit predictable, but I really like how everything tied together and that took me by surprise.

• My only other experience with magical realism was The Book of Tomorrow by Cecilia Ahren (my review here) and I didn't like it very much because the magic seemed out of place - it was more of a convenience than an integral part of the story. It wasn't explained very well either (okay, maybe you can't really explain magic, but my logical mind needs some type of a resolution or explanation!) So when I read The Sugar Queen, I wasn't quite sure how I'd like the whole magical realism theme but I am glad I gave it a try. Is it plausible? It depends on your belief, but at least the author helped explained how the story went from Point A to Point B.

Characters:

• The characters are likeable. While I was reading the book, I kept thinking about I wish I could try all the candies that Josie had! It wasn't until later I found out the author had put a list of all the candies in the book on her website here :)

Ending:

• It was a satisfying ending! Finishing this book was like eating some candies you love :) Just a sweet story. Maybe a bit bittersweet.

Emotion:

• Good thing we usually don't have much snacks at home or I'd be indulging on candies the whole way through!

What I Learned:

• Chick-lit is not my genre, but when it is done right like this book, I do enjoy it (okay I don't really know if this book should be classified as chick-lit or not, but it is closer to chick-lit than other genre I read)

PS:

• Reading about all the candies reminded me of another (non-fiction) book I'd read a couple of years ago - Candyfreak: A Journey through the Chocolate Underbelly of America by Steve Almond. It was a fun read! Recommended if you like candies!  

Read this Author again?

• Yes!

Quote:

"Books can be possessive, can't they? You're walking around in a bookstore and a certain one will jump out at you, like it had moved there on its own, just to get your attention. Sometimes what's inside will change your life, but sometimes you don't even have to read it. Sometimes it's a comfort just to have a book around. May of these books haven't even had their spines cracked. 'Why do you buy books you don't even read?' our daughter asks us. That's like asking someone who lives alone why they bought a cat. For company, of course." (p180)

Overall Rating:
4 Stars. Would have been a bit higher if a bit less predictable.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

The Heart Knows

My mum lives in a different country, so I haven't been able to celebrate mother's day with her in person in the past 7 years. Of course, you don't just appreciate your mum on this particular day only, but it also doesn't seem right to not celebrate it either (especially when all the other mums get acknowledged!)

I did call her already though since the time zone she lives in is half a day ahead of us. Now, I know I should call more often... I just never really like talking on the phone - if you call me, I'd happy to talk to you, but I hardly ever initiate a call because I don't like to intrude. My mum doesn't email or uses the internet, which is my preferred communication tool, so that lives the phone. Well I suppose I could write her the traditional pen-and-paper letter, or fax, or have the pigeon passes on the message. Yeah, excuses.

I know that she knows that I think about her though. We have a good relationship (not like a tiger mum!) so I do feel guilty being so far away. Since I left for the US 7 years ago, I only got to see my mum (and the rest of my immediate family) last year when my youngest sister got married. It's just a long and expansive trip to travel half the way around the world... modern technology definitely helps some, but still, it's not quite the same.

My mum's mum died when she was only 19 years old. I am very lucky I still have her. I miss her cooking. I miss her sewing (she's a great seamstress and made a lot of our clothes, or alternated them. Now - if my pants are too long? Wear high heels! If the length is just right? Wear flats!). I just miss her period.

I need to tell her that more often. Being a product of eastern and western cultures, I'm so Chinese in that way - not expressing our feelings. There is a Chinese saying, "the heart knows." I probably take it too heart a bit too closely.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. Maybe one day I will understand what it means to be a mother, and would appreciate what my mum does for me even more.

I love you mum.

(I took this picture of my mum probably about 10 years ago now, not long after I got my first SLR camera. FILM camera, remember those?)

PS - I guess I get a dose of what it is like to be a mum when it comes to our 3 cats, I mean, I even speak "Catonese" with them (Cantonese is my first language) - all in their own 3 different dialects too mind you since they all meow differently! I never thought I'd carry on a conversation with my cats. They don't even meow to each other (apart from the occasional hiss)! I hope when I meow I am not promising them something I can't keep!